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34 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. E. BROSIUS MUD GUN Filed A112. 4. 1926 Aug. 2,1927.

Passau Aug. z, 1927.

UNITED STATES EDGAR E. BROSIUS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUD GUN.

Application filed August 4, 1926.` Serial No. 127,000.

The present invention relates to mud guns of the characterutilized forstopping the tapping holes or iron notches of blast furnaces at thecompletion of each furnace casting operation.

At the present time it is customary in the art to which the preesntinvention relates to utilize artificial means in many cases for theplugging of tapping holes after a furnace casting operation. It isdesirable that guns for this purpose shall have a capacity such thatrecharging thereof during a plugging operation is not necessary so thata plugging operation once `started may be quickly completed.

It is further desirable that mud guns for the purpose referred to shallbe eifective during the plugging operation for preventing possibility ofthe furnace blowing outwardly through the mud gun barrel. In thisconnection, it is of importance, from a practical standpoint, to be ableto maintain -full pressure within a blast furnace without fear of anypossibility of damage by reason of such a blowing out operation. Thepresent invention has for one of its objects the provision of animproved mud gun having such a capacity that complete plugging of a tap--ping hole may be expeditiously obtained without any reloading or manualaddition of clay to the gun during such closing operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mud gun of thecharacter referred to effective for continuously exerting a suiiicientpressure on previously discharged clay to prevent any possibility of ablowing back of such clay by reason of the blast furnace pressure.

l A still further object of the present invention is to provide a mudgun of comparatively large capacity so constructed that not only is theprovision of a separately operable valve rendered unnecessary forcontrolling the discharge of clay, but of such nature that the operatingparts are so disposed asnot to be subjected to any undue heat from thefurnace, and so arranged that an extremely compact, well balanced andeasily refilled structure is afforded.

I n the accompanying drawings, I have shown for purposes of illustrationonly, certain preferred embodiments of m invention, it being understoodthat the rawings do not define the limits of my invention as changes inthe construction, relative arrangement and operation of the parts may bemade without departing either from the spirit of the present inventionor the scope of my broader claims. In the drawings,

Figui-e1 is a top plan View of one form of mud gun constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on the line II-II ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line III-III ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse, sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure 2looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is atransverse sectional view on the line V-Vfof Figure 2looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating a modifiedembodiment of the invention,

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line VII-VII of Figure 6,certain of the supporting and clamping parts being shown in elevation,and

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line VIII- VIIIof Figure 7, certain of the clamping bolts being shown in elevation.

In my prior United States Patent No. 1,288,496 of December 24, 1918there is disclosed a mud gun adapted for the general use hereincontemplated and comprising a reservoir adapted to automatically feedthe gun chamber during the plugging operation. In the construction shownin that patent, the reservoir is illustrated as being arranged With itsaxis Substantially normal to the axis of the gun chamber and as having avalve communication with the gun chamber. In many cases I have foundthat it is desirable to effect a feeding from the reservoir to the gunchamber without the useof separate valve means. I have also found thatin many instances, by reason of limitations eol of space and the like,it is desirable to dispense entirely with vertically mounted reservoirmeans.- The construction herein disclosed may, in connection with thefeatures of operation set forth, be considered as constituting animprovement over the structure disclosed in said patent.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 5, both inclusive, of thedrawings, there is illustrated a plugging apparatus comprising a gunchamber 2 provided with a discharge nozzle or outlet 3. Clay within theard construction.

gun chamber 2 is adapted to be discharged therefrom by the operation ofthe piston 4 carried b a piston rod 41 actuated by the piston 5 m thefiuid pressure actuating cylinder 6. 'Ihese parts, with respect to theirgeneral characteristics, may be of any stand- Disposed intermediate thegun chamber 2 and the Huid pressure actuating cylinder is shockabsorbing means 7 preferably in the form of a coil spring surroundingthe piston rod 4 whereby the movementof the piston in a rearwarddirection may bechecked or cushioned gradually.

Mounted above the gun chamber and fluid pressure actuating cylinder is areservoir 8 adapted to discharge its contents into the gun chamber 2 byreason of the elbow conneet-ion 9, the elbow connection communieatingwith an inlet opening 10 into the gun chamber adjacent the limit oftravel of the piston 3 therein and sol located that with the piston atthe extreme end of its forward travel as illustrated in Figure 2 of thedrawings the piston will be effective for completely closing thisopening.

Mounted for operation within the reservoir 8 is a piston 11 carried by apiston rod 12 on the opposite end of which is mounted an actuatingpiston 13 t-ravelling within the fluid pressure cylinder 14.Intermediate the reservoir 8 and the fiuid pressure cylinder 14 there ispreferably provided cushioning means 15 for the piston 11, similar tothe cushioning means 7 heretofore described.

In the embodiment illustrated in these gures of the drawings, the twosets of cylinders are illustrated as having substantially parallel axesand as being directly superimposed. By reason of this construction, anextremely compact gun structure is provided, making it possible toutilize a reservoir 8 of relatively great length and of a diameterdetermined with reference to available fiuid pressure supplies andcapacity required. At the same time, the operating cylinders for boththe gun chamber and the reservoir are necessarily disposed at aconsiderable distance from the furnace whereby they are not subje`ctedto eXtreme tempera, tures. The entire apparatus in use is adapted to besuspended from a central bracket 16 within which may travel a pin orroller .17. Adjacent the front end of the gun the elbow connection 9 isformed with enlarged bosses 18 from which project trunnions 19 adaptedto cooperate with arms carried by a clamp shaft` as well understood inthe art. lBy my construction, however, the clamp arms are spaced aparton the clamp shaft. lThis is a distinct advantage in that there is lesslikelihood of their becoming fouled on oinder skulls which may Ibuildupl on the trough. Furthermore, the lugs 18, on thel elbow connection 9,are in such positions that the clamp shaft may j' be raised-higher thanis ordinarily permissible.

Increased elevation of the clamp shaft is desirable inasmuch as itavoids warping character' described, a cap will be placed over thedischarge outlet 3 and the gun chamber 2 completely filled with clay.Thereafter, the reservoir 8 will be filled through its opening` 20.IVhen both the gun chamber and the reservoir are filled, the gun isready for use and may be moved into position preparatory to the pluggingoperation, the cap being at this time removed from the discharge outlet.Fluid under pressure will be admitted to the outer end of the cylinder 6for the purpose of moving the piston 5 to the right as viewed in Figure2, this movement being effective through the piston 3 for completelyemptying the gun chamber. Thereafteigfiuid will be admitted to theopposite end of the cylinder G for retracting the piston 5 the desiredamount and fluid pressure will be applied to the left hand end of thecylinder 14, the fluid pressure being sufiicient to tend to constantlyurge the clay in the reservoir 8 to -move through the elbow connection 9into the gun chamber. After the desired amount of clay has been forcedfrom the reservoir into the gun chamberafiuid pressure will again beadmitted to the left hand end of the cylinder 6 and such additionalamount of'clay plugged into the tapping hole. As the piston 4 completesits forward travel, it will be effective for sealing the opening 10 toprevent the further inflow of clay until the piston 4 is againretracted. During the entire operation of the apparatus, the furnace isprevented from blowing' out through the mud gun by reason of theresistance of the piston 4 and also the resistance afforded by thepressure in back of the piston 13.

In normal o aeration, it is customary after having ejected the originalcontents from the gun chamber to only impart. a short stroke to thepiston 5, such stroke being imparted com aratively quickly whereby asuccession o hammer blows is given to the yfreshcharges of clay forcedinto position through the opening 10. The manner of operation of theapparatus may be varied as desired.

-The elbow connection 9 may beiprovided 'with a pivotally mountedclosure 22 by means of which access may be had to the interior of theconnection for cleaning out` purposes or the like.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8, there is illustrated a construction similar tothat already d escribed, but differing therefrom in that twin reservoirsare provided in place of the single reservoir before referred to. Partscorresponding to the parts already described are designated by the samereference characters having a prime affixed thereto. In this modifiedarrangement, a balanced structure ma be obtained by having thereservoirs `8 an their actuating cylinders 14 symmetrically located onopposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the gun chamber 2 and itsactuating fluid pressure cylinder 6. Ifhis makes it possible to locatethe charging opening 20 for the gun chamber directly in the top thereof,and close the same by a pivn,

otally mounted closure 21 held in position by a latch 23 mounted tobeoscillated about the axis 24. y

Each of the reservoirs 8 likewise has a charging opening directly in thetop thereof normally closed by pivotally mounted closure 2l suitablyheld in position.

The two reservoirs 8 'discharge into the gun chamber through a commonopening 10, this opening being accessible for cleaning out purposes orthe like through removal of the closure 22 In both forms of my inventionit will be apparent that the piston movable witlrin the gun chamber iseffective during its reciprocations for not only ej ecting clay from thegun chamber but for controlling the delivery of additional clay theretofrom the reservoir or reservoirs provided for that purpose. This makesit unnecessary to provide any supplemental valve for controlling thiscommunication and makes the amount of clay delivered exactlyproportional to the stroke of the piston rod 4 or 4. This constitutesone advantage of the present 'invention.

Another advantage of the invention larises from the provision of a gunchamber having one or more reservoirs communicating therewith through ano ening controlled by the gun itself indepen ently of`any valves, andparticularly where the reservoir or reservoirs are mounted above andsubstantially lparallel to the axis of the gun chamber.

2. A mud gunv having a.y clay feeding reservoir mounted thereon andextending substantially parallel thereto, said reservoir communicatingwith the chamber of the gun through a normally open connection, meansfor creating a discharging pressure on the clay in the reservoir, andpiston means in the gun chamber effective for ejecting clay therefrom,and fordire'ctly cooperating with said opening to controLthc feeding ofclay from the reservoir to said chamber.

3. A mud' gun comprising a gun chamber having a piston therein, areservoir mounted on said gun chamber, and means for forcing clay fromsaid reservoir into said gun chamber, there being an opening betweensaid reservoir and gun chamber, the piston forming a 'closure for theopening during a portion of the piston stroke.

4. A mud gun, comprising a gun chamber, a piston movably mountedtherein, a reserlvoir on said gun chamber and communicating therewithadjacent the limit of forward tra-vel of the piston therein, and meansoperative for forcing clay from said reservoir into said gun chamber.

5. A mud gun, comprising a gun chamber, a piston movably mountedtherein, a reservoir on said gun' chamber and communicating therewithadjacent the limit of forward travel of the piston therein, and meansoperative for forcing clay from said reservoir into said gun chamber,said means comprising a fluid pressure cylinder and piston controlledthereby.

6. A mud gun, comprising a gun chamber, a piston movably mountedtherein, a reservoir on said gun chamber and communicating therewith adjacent'the limit of forward travel of the piston therein, and meansoperative for forcing clay from said reservoir into said gun chamber,said reservoir and said gun chamber having their axes substantiallyparallel.

7.' In a mud gun, a gun chamber having an opening adjacent the forwardend thereof for the admission of clay, means normally tending to forceclay through said opening, and a piston in said gun chamber for ejectingclay from said chamber, said piston being directly effective for closingsaid openingat the limit of its forward stroke in said gun chamber.

8. In a mud gun, a gun chamber having an openin adjacent the forward endthereof for the a mission of clay, means normally tending to force clayrthrough said opening, and a piston in said gun chamber for ejectingclay from said chamber, said piston being directly effective for closingsaid opening at the limit of its forward stroke in said gun chamber,said means comprising a reservoir mounted on the gun chamber.

9. In a mud gun, a gun chamber having an opening adjacent the forwardend thereof for the admission of clay, means normelly tending to forceclay through said opening, and a. piston in said gun chamber forejecting clay from said chamber, said piston being directly effectivefor closing said opening at the limit of its forward stroke in said gunchamber, said means comprising a reservoir mounted on the gun chamberand having its axis substantially parallel to the axis l0 of the gunchamber.

10. In a. mud gun, a gun chamber7 a gun EDGAR E. BRosis.l

